"Threads of Love" Donor Memorial Quilt: Quilt 69

Francis Graves III

Our Little Hero

From the day our son was born we knew he was very special. A typical boy growing up he loved to please and enjoyed life to its fullest.

After high school he came to us and expressed a desire to become a police officer or better yet, an FBI agent. He entered the military and served as a M.P.(Military police ). He served a tour of duty in Iraqi Freedom. Like so many returning veterans of war he needed help readjusting after his return. He sought help with the VA hospital and was receiving care for PTSD and other ailments that return with a veteran. After many years fighting this disorder he took his life on January 20, 2015. As you can see our son died on his own battlefield. He fought against adversaries that were as real to him as his ashes are to us. They were powerful adversaries. They took their toll of his energies and endurance. Thy exhausted the last vestige of his courage and his strength. He has won our admiration because even if he lost the war, we give him credit for his bravery on the battlefield. We give him credit for the courage and pride and hope that he used as weapons as long as he could. We shall remember, bit his death, but his daily victories gained through his kindness and thoughtfulness through his love for family and friends. We shall remember, not his death, but his daily victories gained through his kindness and thoughtfulness through his love for family and friends. We shall remember, not his last day of defeat, but we shall remember the many days that he was victorious over whelming odds. We shall remember not the years we thought we had left, but the intensity with which he lived the years he had. Only God knows what this child of his suffered in the silent skirmishes that took place in his soul. Our son we discovered belonged to the Gift of Life Program and after 9 days on life support we honored his bequest. Not only had our son sacrificed and served his country, but now has given these vital organs to help another families loved one. This was some accomplishment for any parent’s son.

“Way to go Big Guy.”

“It was such an honor to have you as our son, Stoney. Your mother, your father, and your two sisters love you and will always miss you, but we know you are safe and sound now.”

So sad this has been happening to so many of our nation’s finest. Let us demand that more help be given to our veterans who return home with this baggage from war.